Guiding device



' F. MILLER Feb. 9, 1937.

GUIDING DEVICE Filed Oct. 30, 1935 INVENTOR Emmi? Milieu H '5 ATTORNEY,

Patented Feb. 9, 1937 PATENT OFFICE GUIDING DEVICE Frank Miller, Easton, Pa., assignor to Ingersoll- Rand Company, Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 30, 1935, Serial No. 47,362

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a guiding device, and more particularly to a guiding device for a well drilling apparatus of the rotary type of which the cutting tool is rotated to cut the hole into the earth formation.

The guiding device is particularly adapted for use in connection with drilling mechanism, such as that illustrated in United States Patent No. 1,957,073, granted to Frank Miller, May 1, 1934, and in which the cutting implement and the motor driving it areconnected directly together so that the motor must follow the movement of the cutting tool into the rock.

The drilling mechanism may be suspended from. and raised and lowered by means of a hoist having a cable which is attached to a drill rod secured to the motor casing and having suitable guide means movable therewith for maintaining the drilling apparatus substantially coaxial with the hole being drilled. It is, however, essential that the motor be held stationary in order that only the cutting implement will be rotated.

4 It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide means adapted to interlockingly engage the drill rod and the surface of the hole being drilled to prevent rotation of the drill rod and, therefore, the casing housing the motor.

Another object is to enable the guiding device to be readily secured in position and shifted from one position to another in the drill hole.

Further objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter] In the drawing accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof,

Figure l is an elevation, partly in section, of well drilling apparatus and a guiding device constructed in accordance with the practice of the invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse view taken through the guiding device in Figure 1 on the line 22, and

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the guiding device taken through Figure 2 on the line 33.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 20 designates, in general, a rock drilling mechanism described in detail in the aforementioned patent and comprising a cutting implement 2| adapted to cut a hole 22 into the rock 23.

The cutting implement 2| is illustrated as being of the core cutting type and carries a rod or shaft 24 which may be suitably connected to the shaft 25 of a motor 26 whereby the working implement 2| is rotated. The motor 26 and its transmission gearing 21 are housed within a casing 28 to the outer end of which is secured a drill rod 29 preferably of rectangular cross sectional form and carrying at its upper end an eye-bolt 30 to which a cable 3| is connected for lifting and lowering the drilling apparatus. The cable 3| may be suspended from a derrick 32, in a well known manner, and is trained over the drum 33 of a hoist 34 which provides the power for lifting and lowering the drilling mechanism.

In order to maintain the cutting implement in coaxial relationship with the drill hole the rod 29 is provided with a plurality of guide arms 35 which may be adjustable radially and carry in their outer ends rollers 36 adapted to bear against the Wall of the drill hole.

The guiding device constructed in accordance with the practice of the invention, and designated by 31, is disposed in the drill hole between its entrance and the arms 35. It comprises a casing or drum 38 which may be of cylindrical shape as shown and having bottom and top plates 39 and 40 of which the latter may serve as a platform for the drill operator. The plates 39 and 40 may be secured to the casing 38 by welding and the plate 39 serves as a support for a guide member 4| which is bolted to the plate 39 in coaxial relationship to the casing 38 and has a guide aperture 42 extending therethrough. In cross sectional form the guide aperture 42 corresponds with the shape of the rod 29 which extends slidably through the guide aperture and interlockingly engages the walls thereof to prevent relative rotary movement between the rod 29 and the casing 38.

The casing 38 is of smaller diameter than the cutting element so that sufiicient clearance exists between its periphery of the wall of the drill hole to enable the free entrance into and movement of the casing through the drill hole. In the periphery of the casing are a series of apertures 43, in this instance four, of rectangular shape to serve as guides for rock engaging elements or shoes 44 which are serrated or knurled to provide rough outer surfaces 45 adapted tofrictionally engage the wall of the drill hole.

The apertures 43 and therefore the rock engaging elements extend radially of the guide member 4|, and on the inner surface of the members 44 are lugs 46 to which are pivoted the outer ends of links or toggle members 41 arranged in inclined fashion and pivotally connected to a sleeve 48 slidable 0n the periphery of the guide member 4|. On the upper end of the sleeve 48 is an external lateral flange 49 which serves as an abutment for and interlocks with a flange 50 carried by a nut 5| which is threadedly connected to a stem 52 on the guide member 4!. The connection between the nut 5| and the sleeve 48 is such that the nut may turn freely with respect to the sleeve and that when the nut is raised or lowered on the stem 52 the sleeve 18 will follow its movement.

In structures, such as that illustrated, where the casing is constructed of relatively thin material and in consequence of which the walls of the apertures 43 provide scant guiding surface for the rock engaging elements additional guiding surface may be provided therefor in the form of plates 53. The plates are shown as being of structural shape and may be secured to the casing in any suitable manner. 'These elements may be rendered rigid by arranging therein and joining to the casing and the plates a series of ribs 5 5.

The operation of the device is as follows: After the drill hole has been drilled to a depth permitting the insertion of the guide member the said guide member is disposed about the rod 29 and lowered into the drill hole. The nut 51 is then rotated to move the sleeve 48 downwardly along the guide member 2i. This move,- ment of the sleeve is transmitted through the links ii to the elements 4 3 and the roughened surfaces 45 are then forced into tight frictional engagement with the wall of the drill hole.

As the depth of the drill hole increases the guiding device may be lowered from time to time to assure full engagement between the guide member ll and the rod 29 and also to maintain it in close proximity to the drilling operation which, as has been explained, is being observed by an operator standing on the plate 49.

In order to release the rock engaging elements from the rock surface the nut 5! is threaded upwardly. This movement is transmitted through the sleeve 48 and the links 4? to the members M for retracting them to a position in which they will be removed from contact with the rock surface preparatory to the lowering or raising of the guide member.

I claim:

1. A guiding, device for a drill rod, comprising a casing adapted to be disposed over the end of the drill rod, guide means on the casing wherein the drill rod is freely slidable and interlockingly engaging the drill rod, a plurality of rockengaging members slidable radially in the casing, and a screw-jack arranged coaxially of the drill rod for actuating the rock-engaging members.

2. A guiding device for a drill rod adapted to be disposed over the end of the drill rod, comprising a casing, guide means on the casing wherein the drill rod is freely slidable and interlockingly engaging the drill rod, a plurality of rock-engaging members slidable in the casing, a sleeve threadedly connected to the guide member and being arranged coaxially of the drill rod, and means for transmitting the movement of the sleeve to the rock-engaging members.

3. A guiding device, comprising a casing, a guide member arranged coaxially with the easing and having a guideway adapted to interlockingly engage the drill rod, a plurality of rock-engaging members slidable radially in the casing, a-sleeve slidable on the guide member, a nut threadedly connected to the guide member and being interlocked with the sleeve, and links pivotally connected to the sleeve and the rock-engaging members for transmitting the movement of the nut to the rock-engaging members.

4. A guiding device for a drill rod comprising a cylindrical casing, a guide member thereon coaxial therewith and slidably engaging the rod, a threaded stem on the guide member, a sleeve slidable upon the guide member and interlocked with a nut in threaded engagement with the stem rock-engaging members slidably mounted in the casing and adapted to move radially through casing apertures, and linkage connecting the rock-engaging members to the sleeve to transmit motion of the latter to the former.

5. A guiding device for a drill rod comprising a cylindrical casing having a plurality of apertures therein, an axial guide member slidable longitudinally upon the drill rod and supported by radial members connected to the casing, shoes slidably mounted in the casing and adapted to move radially through the apertures, a guide sleeve surrounding the guide member and connected by toggle members to the shoes, and a nut, threadedly engaged with a portion of the guide member, and bearing against the sleeve to actuate the latter to operate the toggle.

6. A guiding device for drill rods comprising a cylindrical casing, a guide member thereon coaxial therewith and slidable longitudinally upon the rod, a threaded stem on the guide member, a sleeve slidable upon the guide member, a nut in threaded engagement with the stem and bearing upon the guide sleeve, rock-engaging members slidably mounted in the casing and adapted to move radially through casing apertures, and linkage connecting the rock-engaging members to the sleeve to transmit motion of the latter to the former.

FRANK MILLER. 

